Autumn is Awesome!

I loved this autumn because I got to go see Briggs, Livvy, Emily, Chad and Janeen. Initially, the occasion wasn't that great...Emily's surgery, but it sure turned out GREAT! I am going to just post the pictures, they speak for themselves! If you look carefully at the picture of the beautiful golden tree, you will see Mt Rainier in the distance. That tree is in Marcia and Bob's backyard. It provided a great setting for a quick family picture. I love Enumclaw Washington!

And then there's niece Megan!

Without fail, Megan brings fun with her to our house. This night, it was decorating cupcakes with the Three Amigos... Oh, maybe it should be the Four Amigos. When you comin'again, Megan?

Remember

We have been encouraged numerous times to 'remember'. Remember what? Choices we have made, paths that we have taken, people who have influenced our lives, lessons we have learned, numerous blessings received, and even significant historical events. All things 'remembered' woven together helps to make us the individuals we are. I love most 'remember when' stories as can be validated by my grown children. The one 'remember when' that tends to make me quiet, reserved and pensive is the bombing of the Twin Towers and the Pentagon as well as the heroic end to Flight 93 on 9/11, 2001. I remember the horror of watching the second plane hit the second tower. I remember the plumes of smoke and ash covering New York City. It is all a nightmare remembered. My memories are nothing compared to the thousands of families that lost loved ones. My thoughts are with those families this day.

I am so grateful to be a part of such a blessed nation. Blessed? Yes, even in spite of the horror of seven years ago, this is a blessed nation. It is a nation organized by inspired leaders who, under divine guidance, wrote the Constitution. It is by evil design that others would want to destroy it. I want to remember, daily, what it means to be an American. I want to remember, daily, what it means to be free to make choices that can be remembered.

Sweet Sweet Babies

Remember number 19 and number 20? They were both blessed this past Sunday. Papa Mickey's blessing of Logan (still not much of a conversationalist) was beautiful and articulate. I felt privileged to have been there. I always enjoy hearing Randy bless his children. He is a great, loving, fun dad.


Grandchild # 20 - Nickolas with mom and dad, Randy and Amber.


Remember grandchild #19? Logan with mom and dad, Emily and David. No wonder Logan is not much of a conversationalist, huh?
This will be my favorite memory of the day...

These babies sure have a handsome, happy Papa Mickey.

A noteworthy Saturday!

Dang it was a GREAT Saturday!


*Didn't get to spend much time at home, but where I went was just SUPER. I loved it. Life is all about Saturdays (at least during the school year).


*Mickey and I went to our favorite breakfast place (here's a free advertisement) the Original Pancake House in Roseville. There we met David, Emily and Logan - I'm telling you...that Logan is not much of a conversationalist. I had my VERY favorite ... Dutchbaby Pancake with extra lemon, butter and powdered sugar. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.


*Traveled to Costco. Gez, we spend over $200.00 and I don't even know what we bought (so much for the Money Moritorium). Oh, now I remember, we bought HUGE bags of candy, lots and lots of candy. Gotta restock the candy bucket. It's a done deal.

*Doing the Grateful Grandma Duty was THE best. It was 100 degrees, we're outside watching Carter play his first for real soccer game. AND I got to see Carter make a goal,


Marin practicing her hot soccer game...


AND, I got to see Norm taking on the appearance of a holy one (that's a quote from him). In reality, he just wanted to protect his bald head from the 100 degree sun. He looks cute doesn't he?

The Sacrifice Update

My leg is getting so much better! The lump is still there, but now it is getting green...that's gotta be good.Who feels sorry for me? Please don't, after all it's just in the course of the day when one saves one's mother's life. It is all worth it. Not everyone can be a heroine.

I'm thinking it will be another week of wearing long pants at school. I don't want to create nightmares for the little kids.

The Day I Saved My Mom's Life...

See that lump on my leg? Pretty dramatic, huh? I got that lump because I saved my mom's life...No kidding! I believe I saved my mom's life. Now, her story may be a little different but here is what REALLY happened.

Mom was walking across her bedroom and tripped over a corner of her suitcase (it was on the floor so she could pack in anticipation for the Robin Snatch). She began spinning around trying to grab onto something to save her from falling. I saw what was happening and rushed to her aid (kinda). I was in the doorway. She was headed toward the metal chair leg that she uses when she is computerizing. I stepped into the path so she could hit my leg instead of the menacing metal chair stand. I was successful. I saved her life. But, her HARD head hit my shin. She was laying on the floor at my feet saying..."I hit my head". My response, "Yes, I know." And boy did I. The bulb began building SOON. Mom and Mickey saying, "You had better go see the Dr. about that". After an hour of icing and the lump had not dimished...I succumbed and went to the Dr. The prescription...ice and wrap. I could have told them that! This picture was taken as we drove to the Dr.

Are you impressed with my sacrifice?

How many of you have saved someone's life? I've done that twice. YEAH.

No More Sunday's with Mom/Grandma Betty

Robin came and snatched my mom on Wedneday. Now, I will miss those spiritual Sunday's watching Mom deeply involved with her scriptures. She looks pretty peaceful as she reads from the book of Alma. Oh, wait, as I look a little closer, she isn't reading...she's napping. And that is what Sunday is all about!

Number 20

Meet Nicholas (Nick) Abraham Onstine. He was born Wednesday August 13th. He joins Randy, Amber, Mac, Jack, and Luke. He really is number 20. Gez! that's a lot of grandkids. I was lucky enough to drop by after school to meet him.

Number 19

Yep,
this makes number 19. I count the number of Hansen-Witt grandkids all the time, just to make sure.
I was so affected by the reverence present in the room when Logan Daniel was being born to Emily and David. The flurry of activity stopped and silence moved in as Logan was born. He was born August 8th. Yes! his birthdate is 8/8/08. How lucky is he going to be! Those of you still in the trenches having babies may not recognize the reverence of birth, but from one who has been there, and can now have the priviledge of observing...it's REAL.

Andrea Lynn Hansen Jones

Ya see this girl? Ya see this girl? I love this girl/woman. Yesterday was Andie's 31st birthday...ah, yes...I hearken back to the great day when she was born. AND, the reason I do this, is because Andie wouldn't let me do it yesterday. She had her chance...so here goes...

It was August 1st...the moving van was coming at 8:00 am to move our stuff to the Denver area. We had packed up most of the Orem house. Dennis' brother Hal was with us from Denver to help us move. Teri, Dennis' sister was in the area.

It's now 4:00 am and I wake up with an VERY uncomfortable feeling. WHOA! I'm in labor. There was just one more thing to do before leaving the house. I needed to scrub the shower by the master bedroom. So, while awake and between pains I decided to clean the shower. Dennis wakes up and says, "Sue, what are you doing?" I say, "Well, I'm kinda in labor and this needs to be done." Dennis - "Come back to bed and relax." Sue - "I will when I get his done." Finally, I finished cleaning the shower and did indeed go lay down.

Problem! The moving van was coming...who was going to be there to supervise? YES! Teri! She was so willing and helpful.

Problem! Hal was due to catch a flight back to Denver about 9:00 am. Who would take him to the airport...he was helping Dennis with his business in Denver and needed to be there because...Dennis was going to be in Provo to welcome his next child.

SO... Dennis would hurry and take Hal to the airport, get right back and take me to the hospital. I promised I would still be home so he could take me to the hospital.

Problem! The pains increased in intensity and became more frequent. So...I called the neighbor across the street and he hustled, got dressed and took me to the hospital. It was 9:00 am and I as hurtin'.

Dennis got back from the airport about 10:30.

At about 11:30 they wheeled me into the delivery room, where they strapped me down. Yep, that's the way they did it then. So kind, so encouraging, so maddening! I had received some kind of pain killer that didn't let me feel the instinct to push so the nurse had to tell me when to push. I was pushing my guts out (literally because my bladder was born just before Andie). I was still hurtin' so I told the Dr. I was going home. He needed to get me off the table so I could leave. He asked me what I thought would happen if I left. I told him the pain would all go away. NOT! They wouldn't let me off the table. I had to go back to work...OW!

Andie got stuck on my tailbone so they had to use TONGS (I don't think that is the medical term) to lift her so she could shoot out and into the world. Which she did a little after noon on Monday August 1, 1977.

She weighed 9 pounds and was tall (don't remember how tall).

She smiled for the first time when she was two days old and did not stop. The nurses couldn't believe it. She responded to their voices and smiled. Nope! Not gas.

I love this girl/woman and I am so thankful she is my daughter. She has taught me so much.

So, there Andie! Don't you wish you had let me play "Remember when" yesterday?

A sound from the Nebo Loop

A Wondermas Anniversary week

Yep, Mickey and I have been married for an unbelievable (for many reasons) 13 years. Whoa...who would have thought!

What a treat to return to the Salt Lake Temple and enjoy the ordinances on behaf of Mickey's parents...Whoa! again!

What a treat to spend so much time with my brother, his wondermas wife, and the nieces and nephew in-laws. Not to mention the food...Whoa for a third time!

What a treat to wander through the Rocky Mountains, the Mt. Nebo Loop to be specific. Whoa!...for the fourth time!

I recorded the sights and sounds of some of the week...enjoy if you decide to partake.

By-the-way...Jack owes me $25,000 for winning the most Cribbage games...Should I decide to collect...WHOA! I promise I'll invest it wisely.